Railway signal system.



No. 845,188. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907. F M, MYERS. RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.1906.

2 8HEETS-SHEET 2- 4 3 i E 3 M 7 wi/tmaooao I bridge, or other obstruction;

- block are electrically connected with the rail l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

FRANOIS M. MYERS, OF WINDSOR, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES A. DRAPER, OF WINDSOR, MISSOURI, AND ONE-THIRD- TO PHILIPII. KILPATRICK, OF CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI.

RAlLWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed March 22, 1906. Serial No. 307,412.

To all ill/L077? it HMLZ/ concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/viiidsor', Henry county, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Railway Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway-signals; and its object is to give, and if necessary rcpeat, a visible or other signal in the cab of a locomotive or on any other part pf atrain to warn the engineer or other attendant of approachingfdanger either in thefo'rm of another train, a broken rail, an open switch or The invention also embodies an improved arrangement of circuits and various features of advantage which will be pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents dia-' grammatically the arrangements of circuits included in one embodiment of my invention as applied to one track of a double-track road and the indicating mechanism employed. Fig. 2 shows a switch Wired in conformity with my invention. Fig. 3 is a de tail plan of a preferred form of contact-shoe, and Fig. 4 shows the arrangements of circuits on a single-track road.

In all of the figures like characters designate like parts. 7

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 designates one of th tracks of a double-track road on which trains move in the direction of the arrow. 2 is one of the rails of said track and is insulated and continuous, and 3 is the other rail, which is insulatedand divided into sections forming a series of blocks, (indicated in Fig. 1 by the characters 4, 5, and 6.) Arranged in each block and adapted to make contact with a properly-arranged. shoe on a passing locomotive is a series of contact-rails 7, in the drawings three of said rails being shown one near each end of a block and one at the center thereof. The contact-rails of each 3 of the adjoining or any other preferred block by the line-wire 8, and each rail 3 is electric ally connected with the continuous rail 5' through a track-battery 9.

Upon the locomotive using my system will be arran ed the indicating mechanism and i opei'at'Ei.; ;--t.i: suits now to b described, and lb may here be stated that although this specification describes my system as applied to a locomotive, yet my invention is not limited to that particular styleof conveyance, but may be applied equally as well to any other vehicle moving upon a railroad or other track.

1.0 is a battery or generator from which run the positive and negative wires 11 and 12, respectively, through a magnet 13, shown in the form of a solenoid, resistance 14, andswitch 15, thus completing the circuit and energizing the magnet 13.

Arranged in operative relation with the magnet 13 is an indicating mechanism comprising a semaphore 16 and a dial 17. Any other approved indicating devices may be operatively connected with the magnet Without departing from the spirit of my invention. Also additional signals, audible or visible, may be added by suitably connecting their operating mechanism with the moving part of the magnet; but the mechanism about to be described is the preferred form.

The semaphore 16 is pivoted at 18 and is held in set position by the magnet 13 and through suitable levers 19 is adapted to operate the rotatable dial 17. Obviously the dial may be operated directly by the solenoid and the semaphore dispensed with or other devices substituted therefor. The dial 17 is provided with a series of numerals or other symbols 20, indicating the respective positions of the contact-rails 7-, hereinheforereferred to. The hub of the dial is torn. ed with teeth 22, one for each numeral 20, which adapts the dial'to be rotated one step to each complete oscillation of the semaphore.

' It will now be understood that when the circuit from battery 10 is broken (as by contact-rail 7) the magnet 13 will be denerglzed and the semaphore will drop to the danger position, as shown in dotted lines, and simultaneously the dial will be rotated one step, in the present instance from .3 to 1, indicating that the locomotive has just passed the first contact-rail of the block. the semaphore be restoredto its set position, the operation will be repeated, when the circuit is again broken, and the dial will indicate that the second contactrail has been passed.

For the purposes of this invention the power of the magnet 13 is so adjusted as to magnet 27. .The wires 28 End 29 from the relay magnet a e respectively electrically 'and'a-contact shoc 30,Which shoe is adapted be capable of holding the semaphore inset position,.as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, as'long --a sthe circuitis closed butit isincapable'oi-restoring the same while the resistance 14 is in circuit. However, the semaphore may be restored to set position by shunting the current around said resistance, and for this purpose there is provided the shunts 23 and 24, respectively, the former of which is closed by the push-button 25, normally held in open position, and the latter -by the switch 26, also normally held in open position and adapted' to'be closed by the action of a relaycdnnectedwith oneof the locomotive-wheels 37, having contact with the continuous rail 2,

to' unake electric'al contact with contact-rails 7. This *conta'ct-shoe 30 is arranged on the ilocomotive slightlyin the rear of the circuitbreaker 31, operating the switch 15.

,Thepircuit-breaker 31 is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and its construction is well adapted to the uses of this system. The'brush 32, I

offsprin form, is mounted at both ends in sliding oxes 33, secured to bars 34 and held thereon by stops 35. A link 36, of in- -sulating material, pivotally connects the brush 'with the sprin'g switch 15. Thus "when the brush strikes the contact-rail 7 in the position shown in Fig. 3 it is raised, asshown in dotted lines, one of its ends sliding on the bar 34, and through the link 36 it operatesto open the switch 15, and immediately upon passing said contact-rail the switchis restored. I

The contact-shoe 30 is similar in construction to the circuit-breaker 31, except that the link 36'is omitted and th'e'wire 29 is electrically connected to the brush.

'The operation ofthe system as thus far described may be'st'ated as follows: Supposing =a'locomotiveis justent'ering block 5 from left to right and that the track ahead is cleargthe dial 17 will show the numeral 3, 'indi'catin thatthe third ('andinthe present case the last) contact-rail of the-block just left has been-passed, and the semaphore 16 will be set at safety." 'As thecircuitbreaker 31 strikes-the firstcontact-rail 70f the block 5 the circuit of battery will be interrupted. and the magnet 13 consequently deenergized, resulting in semaphore 16 dropping to danger and simultaneously rotating'the dial 17 one step, exposing the numeral 1, indicating that the first contact-rail of the block has been passed. As 'thecircutebreaker slides off of the rail 7 the switch restores the circuit of battery 10;

sound until the resistance is e ut out of circuit. As the circuit-breaker'iil le v he -contact-rail f-the shoe makes :gil'eotriioal contact therewith, and a circultnsfformed romitrack-battery '9 of block 6 through rail 2, wheel 37 or the locomotive, wire 28,; relay-magnet 27, wire 29, shoe 30, contactrail 7, line-wire 8, and rail 3 of block6, thus repeated at the second and third contactrails of the block, the'dial 17 being rotated onestep at each operation, thus indicating the relative position of the locomotive.

energizing relay-magnet 27, whicho crates Again, supposing that the locomotive isjjus't entering'block 5 ,but that there is-a tram or other obstruction-in block 6, ithe' operation of breaking. and restoring :the circuit of'battery 10 will bethe same :as before described; but the'i'elay1nagnet v27 will=notaet to shuntwhe current around the IeSlStEHOEyOWiIlg to :the

iact that thetrack-battery-Q of blookfi will I be short-circuited through the wheels df'the obstructing train. Hence .the=danger si nal willcontinue to warn the engineer unti he restores-it to safety 'by pressing the push- 'button 25 l11 the shunt 23, :and iLthe-obstruction is still presentin block-6 whenthe locomotive reaches the second-contact-rail 7 the danger-signal will be repeated, and likewise with'theremainingcontact-rails in that block. 1

From the above-tlescribcd o eration it will be observed that should eit er rail -of' block 6 be broken or shoul'cl'they b e electrically connected by any obstruction whatsorestore the danger-signaltothe position of safety.

Referringto Fig. 2, itwillbe observedthat' the rail 2,'-which is necessarily broken forthe ;,purposes of {the switch, is electrically connected, as at 38,-and-tha't theirail 3 is electrically connected, as at 39, With-the'rail 40 of the switch. Arranged on the movable part 41 of" the switch is the contact-point fl2, adapted to make electrical contact with'the rail 2 when'the'swit c-h'is open, thus short-.

circuiting the track-battery 9 through rail'3, rail 40, part 41, contact-point '42, and rail 2, and consequently-giving'the danger-Si nal to anapproaching locomotive.

Manyot er arrangentents of switch-wiring maybe resorted I -to without departing from-my invention,'the

object being to either shjort-circuit thetrackbattery 9 or to breakthe continuity of the relay-circuit-making members of the *trackbattery, any one of which will operate-to: give the danger-signal to an approaching locomotive. Suitable wirings may also be arranged at draw-bridges and other temporary obdanger-signal and for visibly indicating thereon the position of said locomotive with relation to said contact-rails, and means for operating said indicating means as each point is reached by said locomotive.

2. The combination of a complete electric circuit arranged upon a locomotive and adapted to be broken by a track contactrail, indicating mechanism controlled by said circuit and adapted to be operated by'the breaking thereof, a resistance in said circuit adapted to prevent the resetting of said mechanism, and a relay adapted to receive energy from atrack battery and operating to form a shunt-circuit on the'locomotive around said resistance, whereby said mechanism is reset. J

3; The combination of a complete electric circuit arranged upon a locomotive and adapted to be broken by a track contact-rail, indicating mechanism controlled by said eircuit and adapted to be operated by thev breakin thereof,,a. resistance in said circuit ada te to prevent the resetting of said inec anism, and means including a track battery and circuit for closing a shunt-circuit on" the locomotive around said resistance, whereby said mechanism is reset.

4. The combination of a complete'electric circuit in which is included a solenoid, a resistance-coil, and,- a normally closed springswitch, said switch being provided with a circuit-breaker, a shunt around said resistance coil, said shunt having a switch normally held in open position, an indicator adapted to be held in set position by said solenoid when said coil is in circuit and adapted to be raised to set position by'said solenoid only when the current is shunted around said coil, all of said elements being arranged'upon a moving locomotive, and a stationary contact-rail arranged to act upon said circuit-breaker.

5. The combination with a track eomprising a continuous insulated rail and a sectional insulated rail, contact-rails arranged cont guous to said track at intervals n each of the sections, line-wires electrically connecting the contact-rails of each section with the sectional rail of another section, and an electric battery arranged between each sectional rail and the continuous rail, of a locomotive adapted to run on said track and provided with shoes adapt-ed to touch said contactrails in passing, said shoes causing the operation of indicating mechanism carried on said locomotive whereby the position of said locomotive relative to the sections may be determined.

6. The combination with a closedelectric circuit in which is included a magnet and a resistance, a shunt around the resistance provided with a switch normally held open, an indicator adapted to be held in set position by said magnet with the resistance in circuit but to be attracted to its set position only when the current is shunted around the resistance, whereby when the circuit is momentarily broken and restored the indicator will move from set position and will not be reset until the shunt-switch is closed, all of the foregoing elements being carried on a locomotive, of means arranged contiguous to the locomotive-track for momentarily breaking said circuit.

7. The combination with a closed electric circuit in which is included a magnet, a resistance and a spring-switeh, said switch being norn'ially closed, a shunt around the resistance, said shunt being provided with a switch normally held open, an indicator adapted to be held in set'position by said of the foregoing elements being carried on a locomotive, 'of means arranged conti 'uous to the locomotive-track formomentari y operating said first-mentioned switch.

8. The combination of a closed electric circuit in which is included a magnet, a resi ance, and a normally closed spring-switch, a normally open shunt around said resistance, a relay-ma net adapted, when energized, to close said s hint, and an indicator controlled by said first-mentioned magnet, all of the above elements being carried on a locorhotive, with a contact-rail adapted to break said closed circuit momentarily, and a trackbattery arranged to momentarily energize said relay-magnet after said closed circuit has been broken and restored.

9. The combination of a locomotive carrying a battery and a complete electric circuit connected therewith, a resistance and a noirnally closed spring-switch in said circuit, said switch being provided with a, eircuit breaker adapted to be operated by a contactrail, an indicating mechanism controlled by the breaking and restoring of said circuit, a normally open shunt around said resistance, and a relay anagnet adapted, when energized, to close said shunt, thewinding of said relay having connection respectively with a wheel of said locomotive and .a-eontactwshoe adapt- "said. switch being and the other being diy'idedinto insulated coiiperate with a contact-rail, with a "railway-track upon which said locomotive is 'tda ted'to, run, one rail of said track being dilated from the ground and vcontinuous,

sections forming blocks,- a;tralclnbattery arranged between and conne ted with each sectional rail and the continuous rail, and a.

contact-rail for each block arranged to co' .operatewith said circuit-breaker and contact-shoe and having connection with the sectional rail of another block.

10. The-combination of a locomotive carabattery and a complete electric cir chit-connected therewith, a resistance and a normally closed spring-switch in said circuit,

breaker adapt'edto e operated by acontactrail, an indicating mechanism controlled by the breaking and restoring of said circuit,a' normallyopen shunt around said resistance, and a relay-magnet adapted, when energized, toclose said shunt, the winding of said relay havin connection res ectively with a wheel of sair locomotive an a contact-shoe adapted to copperate with a contact-rail, with a railway-track upon which said locomotive is 'ada ted to run, one rail of said track being insu ated from the ground and continuous, and the other being divided into insulated sections forming blocks, a track-battery arrangedbetween and connected with each sectional rail andthe continuous rail, and a series of contact-rails for each block arranged to cooperate with said circuit-breaker and contact-shoe and having connection with the sectional rail of another block.

- 1 1.- The combination of a locomotive car rying an electric generator and a complete circuit including therein a resistance, a magnet, and a normally closed spring-switch, said switch being provided with a circuitbreaker ada ted'to be operated by a contactrail,"an in icator comprising a semaphore and a dial provided, with numerals or other symbols; said indicator being'adapted to be held in set position by said magnet with the resistance in circuit but to be attracted to set position only when the current is shunted around said resistance, a normally open shunt around said resistance, a relay-magnet having terminals respectively in a wheel of the locomotive and in a contact-shoe, said magnet being adapted, when energized, to close said shunt, and said shoe being arranged in the rear of said circr it-breaker and adapted to touch a contact-rail, a track comprising a continuous insulated rail adapted vto have contact with said wheel and a sectional insu;

lated rail forming blocks, an electric generator arranged between andconne'cted to each sectional rail and the continuous rail, contact-rails arran ed at a plurality of points in each block an adapted to coiiperate "with rovided with a 'circuitsaid circuit-breaker and contact-shoe successively, said points corresponding innl; mber or location to the numerals or symbols of said dial, and a linerwire connecting the contactanother block. y a I i 12. The combination of a locomotive carrying an electric generator anda complete rails of each blocklwith the sectional rail of circuit including therein a-resi stance, a ma net and a normallyclosed 'sp'ring-switc said switchbeing provided with a circuitbreaker ada ted to be operated'by a contactrail, an inricator comprising a semaphore anda dial provided with numerals or other symbols, said indicator being adapted to be held in set position by said magnet with the resistance in circuit, but to be attracted to set position only when the current is shunted around. saidresistance, a ,normally open shunt around said resistance, another nor-1' mally' open shunt around said resistance, a-

relay-ma net having terminals respectively in a whee .of the locomotive andin a contactshoe, said magnet being adapted,.when'eriergized, to close said first-mentioned shunt, and said shoe being arrangedin the rear of said contact-shoe and adapted to touch a contact-rail atrack comprising a continuous insulated rail adapted to have contact with said wheel and a sectional insulated rail forming blocks, an electric generator betweenand connected toeach sectional rail and the continuous rail, contact-rails arranged at a plu rality of points in each block and adapted to cooperate with said circuitdcreaker and contact-shoe successively, said points correspondingin number or location to the nuism, and a relay-magnetm apted, when energized, to close a sh: nt around said'resistance whereby said mechanism may be reset, of a railway-switch, a track-l attery, Wirings so arranged therewith that the circuit of said battery is closed when the switch is open and vice versa, and'means for electrically connecting the windings of said relay-magnet with said wirings at a predetermined position in the travelbf said locomotive. 14. The combination with a complete electric circi' it adapted to o erate an indicating rnechanism by thebrea g of said circuit and to reset said mechanism by the remaking of sairl circritand the closing of a shunt around a resistance, a reIay magnet adapted, when energized, to close said shunt, a nor mally closed spring-switch in said circuit, all of said elements being arranged upon a moving locomotive, of a railway-switch, a trackbattery, wirings so arran ed with said battery a contact-rail adapted to momentarily open said spring-switch, and means for momentarily connecting the of said relaymagnet with sa d wirings immediately following the actuation of said spring-switch.

"spring-brush mounted in sliding boxes, said boxes having a limited longitudinal 'movement, and means on said'brush adapted to operate a switch.

17. The combination with an electric sig nal system, of a circuit-breaker comprising a brush mounted in sliding boxes, said boxes having a limited longitudinal movement, and

insulated means on said brush connecting it with the movable part of a switch.

18. The combination (with an electric-rail ,way system, of a contact-shoe comprising a sprin -metal brush mounted in slidin boxes,

said oxes having" a movement.- a

vl9. A contact-shoe comprising, a brush formedof sprin -metal, said brush being pivotediat its en s to sliding boxes, guiding means for said boxes,and stops to limittheir movement. 4

limited longitudinal .20. A contact-shoe comprising a brush, formed of springmetal, sliding boxes on the" ends of said brush, and stops to limit the I travel of said boxes.

. 21; In a block-signal system, an indicator carried on the locomotive, a contact-rail arran ed in each block, means actuated by sai rail for operating said indicator regardless of the condition of the track-circuits, and means for returning said indicator to its first position when the track-circuitsare innormal condition only. i

22. In a block-signal system, an indicator carried on the locomotive, a contact-rail arran ed in each block, means actuated by sai rail for operating said indicator regardless of he condition of the track-circuits, and

means fdr subsequently actuating said oper-Q the track-circuits, and means for subsequently actuating said operating means and railway-switch hat the circuit isclosed when the switch is open and vice versa,

k-signal system, an indicator ately thereafter actulatingtsaidypperatin f when said track-circuits are in normal con- :1

means when the track-circuits seem norma x l, .15

condition only, whereby sai, indicator'will be returned to its first posit if the-track circuits are undisturbed. I 25. In a railway-signal system,- faj. combined indicator carried on the locomotive'for I denoting both the track condition and the position of said locomotive with, relation to predetermined points alon the trackkj'aiid -means for operating said in icator: I,

26. A contact-shoe comprising a brush, formed of spring-metal, sliding boxes at tached to and housing the ends of said brush and stops to limit the travel of saidtboxes.

, 27. In a block-signal system, an indicator" carried on the locomotive for denoting both j the track condition and the relative position of the locomotive, means for operating said indicator at a point along. theftrack, and means for immediately thereafter resetting said indicator when the track-circuits are in'. normal condition only. g

28. In a block-signal system, an indicate carried on the locomotive, said indicate comprising a danger-signal and a dial havi'l'l figures or other symbols corresponding Wit points along the track, a magnet adapte'dg 29. In a block-signal system, an indicator "carried on the locomotive, said indicator comprising a danger-Si nal and a dial-havin q figures or other symbo s correspondin wit points along the track,"a magnet a apted' when partly energized to hold said signaltosafety and when fully energized to raise said; signal to safety and said si nal adapted to; drop to dan er when sai magnet is de energized, an to move said dial one pointga,

energize said magnet, means-for breaking; said circuit as each point is reached by the locomotive, and means depending uponthe' condition of the track-circuits for partially or wholly restoring said first-mentioned circuit immediately following the breaking thereof;

In testimony whereof- I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses. FRANCIS M." MYERs.

Witnesses: l

H. S. PLUMMER,

Ross E. Fnas'rnn.

1 x source of electricity and a circuit adapted to; 

